Episode 57: More Than My Grief

What if grief is shaping you… but not defining you?In this episode of The NEXT Podcast, Jay Cookingham reflects on a tension he’s been wrestling with even after years of walking through loss, hosting a grief podcast, and helping others navigate sorrow—he doesn’t want to be known as “the grief guy.”Because grief may be part of his story… but it is not his identity.Jay shares honestly about what it means to be refined by grief rather than defined by it. He explores the difference between labels and transformation, the sacred role of lament, and the ongoing process of letting go—not of love, but of what holds us back from moving forward.This episode is a reminder that:• You are more than what you’ve lost• Grief is real, necessary, and deeply personal• And God alone gets to define who you areIf you’ve ever felt like your pain is becoming your identity… this conversation will meet you there—with honesty, hope, and truth.